Forgiveness is one of the most powerful, transformative, and often misunderstood aspects of spiritual development, and it's the critical element discussed in episode 565 of Soul Elevation. Forgiveness is something that every single one of us has the opportunity to practice, yet it is also something that many people struggle to truly embody. On the spiritual path, we often explore concepts like ascension, higher consciousness, and the nature of reality, which can feel expansive and complex. But forgiveness is simple, grounded, and deeply human.
At the same time, it's not always easy.
One of the most important things to understand and watch out for is that true forgiveness doesn't mean bypassing your emotions. There can be a tendency, especially for those who are committed to spiritual growth, to want to move quickly past pain. You might feel that if you are “spiritual enough,” you should not feel anger, sadness, or betrayal. You may even try to jump straight from being hurt into a state of forgiveness, never spending any time processing the hurt. This is what spiritual bypassing is.
You are not here to deny your humanity, but rather to experience it fully. You have a physical body, an emotional body, a mental body, and a spiritual body. All of these aspects are part of your design, and each one deserves to be honored. When something hurts, it is natural to feel that hurt. When something feels unjust, it is natural to feel anger. Even though those emotions are not pleasant, they too are part of the path.
The key is not to suppress them, but also not to stay stuck in them. Emotions are meant to move. They are meant to be felt, processed, and released. When we cling to them, when we build an identity around what happened to us and really set up camp there for the long haul, we carry that experience far longer than it was ever meant to stay.
Many people unknowingly hold onto a story of being wronged. They replay it, reinforce it, and allow it to define how they see themselves and others. Over time, that story can become a fixed lens through which they experience life. But holding onto anger and resentment does not punish the other person. It only continues to hurt you.
There is a powerful old adage that holding onto anger is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to suffer. The truth is, the person who caused the pain may not even be aware of the impact they had. In some cases, they may not have the capacity to care, if you are dealing with a narcissist for instance. In other cases, they may have moved on entirely and made peace with what happened. Meanwhile, you continue to carry the anger, resentment, hurt, etc
This is where forgiveness becomes essential, not as something you do for someone else, but as something you do for your own freedom. Forgiveness is a release. It is a conscious decision to stop carrying what no longer serves you, for your sake as much as anyone's. It does not mean what happened was acceptable. It does not mean you are denying your feelings. It means you are choosing not to let that experience define your present moment or your future.
In my opinion, one of the most powerful tools for practicing forgiveness is the ancient Hawaiian prayer Ho'oponopono.
This simple yet profound practice consists of four phrases: I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you. I love you.
These words carry a frequency that helps restore harmony, both within yourself and in your relationships. You can use this prayer by bringing to mind a person, a situation, or even a version of yourself that is holding pain. As you repeat the phrases, allow the energy to soften, to cleanse, and to rebalance what feels distorted or heavy.
What makes this practice so powerful is that it can be used in many ways. It can be used to forgive someone else or to ask for forgiveness. And very often, it is needed for self forgiveness. Many people carry deep layers of guilt and shame, sometimes without even realizing it. These patterns can become so ingrained that the mind begins searching for things to feel bad about. Even small or insignificant moments can be magnified and replayed, creating a cycle of self-judgment. In episode 565, I share about when I myself was plagued with a continuous guilt and shame cycle as a child.
Ho'oponopono interrupts those cycle. It allows you to meet yourself with compassion instead of criticism. It helps you release what you have been holding onto and return to a state of balance and self-love.
Forgiveness can also extend beyond this lifetime. There are moments when unresolved emotional experiences resurface, whether through memories, dreams, or intuitive insights. These experiences can feel deeply connected, as though they carry an energetic imprint that has not yet been resolved. Again in episode 565, I shared how this happened to me within the last few months. Memory of a past life in Ancient Greece suddenly came into focus, along with things I hadn't thought about from 25 years ago in this life. I realized there was a connection between these memories and a chance to heal what remained energetically imbalanced through time and space.
Through practices like Ho'oponopono, it is possible to bring healing to these layers as well. By revisiting the emotional energy of a past experience and consciously offering forgiveness, you can shift the pattern and bring closure to where there is fragmentation. As this happens, the energy changes. Energy/memories that feel sharp, chaotic, or heavy begin to soften. They become more balanced, coherent, and aligned. In many ways, it is like transforming disorder into harmony. This is the true essence of forgiveness.
It is not about forgetting. It is about freeing yourself. You allow your energy to return to a state of flow rather than remaining stuck in contraction.
Prayer, in any form, can support this process. Whether you connect with your Higher Self, with divine intelligence, or with the universal field of consciousness, asking for support in forgiveness can open pathways that feel difficult to access on your own. You don't have to force forgiveness, but instead invite it in. You can ask for help in softening your heart, releasing what you are holding, and restoring peace within yourself.
Forgiveness is sometimes not a single act. It can be a process. It may come in layers, deepening over time. Each time you return to it, you create more space within yourself for clarity, peace, and higher awareness. And ultimately, that is what supports your spiritual evolution. As you release resentment, guilt, and emotional weight, your energy becomes lighter. Your perspective becomes clearer. Your connection to your Higher Self becomes stronger.
Forgiveness is not just an emotional practice. It is a spiritual one. It is a doorway into greater freedom, greater alignment, and a more expanded state of consciousness.
Comments